Notice Information
Notice Title
Special Educational Setting (SES) Sight Test Service for Children and Young People
Notice Description
This Corrigendum Notice is published to communicate that NHS Essex Integrated Care Board (the Authority) have awarded an Integrator contract to deliver the Special Educational Setting (SES) Sight Test Service for children and young people through local accredited optometry practices, following a Most Suitable Provider (MSP) process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. This notice supersedes the previous notice published on 27 January 2026 in relation to NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board's intention to award an Integrator contract to deliver the Special Educational Setting (SES) Sight Test Service for children and young people through local accredited optometry practices, following a Most Suitable Provider (MSP) process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. Pursuant to the statutory changes effective from 1 April 2026, the commissioning responsibility for this service transferred from NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board to NHS Essex Integrated Care Board. Accordingly, the service constitutes an inherited commissioning arrangement arising directly from the organisational transition.
Lot Information
Lot 1
This notice is an intention to award a contract under the most suitable provider process in accordance with the Provider Selection Regime 2023 (PSR). The contract will be a block contract commencing 10 February 2026 - 9 February 2028. This is a new service, and a new provider of such service in Mid and South Essex. Scope and Responsibilities The Integrator will: * Validate pupil numbers and financial assumptions during mobilisation. * Establish IT systems and reporting mechanisms. * Engage schools to promote service uptake. * Recruit and train subcontractors (optometrists). * Ensure delivery of annual sight tests for pupils in special education schools across Essex. Contractual Framework * The Integrator contract will use the Standard NHS Contract (short form), covering all performance and risk requirements. * Subcontractor agreements will be governed by the General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) Contract, per the national model. * Delivered under a block funding model, capped at NHS England allocation. Activity above the cap is at the Integrator's risk; underspend will be reinvested into service improvement. * Provisions allow permitted modifications under Regulations and NHS Standard Contract change control. Known future modification: geographic expansion beyond Mid and South Essex to the wider Essex ICB footprint. Estimated Value The estimated lifetime value (including known modifications) of the contract is PS570,000. The Authority only considered organisations that: * Met basic selection criteria (Reg 19). * Are not excluded or excludable (Reg 20). * Demonstrated capability across the five key criteria (Reg 5). Basic Selection Criteria Providers needed to: * Have a General Optical Council (GOC)-registered optometrist in senior leadership. * Hold an existing local contract for ease of mobilisation. * Demonstrate a proven track record in: o Partnerships with local accredited optometry practices. o Collaboration with independent and national opticians. o Working with the Local Optical Committee (LOC). o Commissioning and managing NHS eye care services, including subcontracting. * Ensure compliance with specification and contract terms across subcontractors, operating within the fixed tariff of at least PS85 per sight test. * Show strong experience of and understanding of the GOS contract and governance. Key Criteria Assessment Providers needed to demonstrate capability across five areas: 1. Quality and Innovation (20%) o Experience delivering large-scale community eye care. o Proven model integrating independent and multiple practices with robust assurance. o Innovative digital platforms for referral and coordination. o Integration with hospital ophthalmology services. o Delivery of enhanced services (e.g., MECS, post-cataract care, glaucoma monitoring). 2. Value (20%) o Financial model reinvesting into NHS eye care. o Leveraging local infrastructure to minimise costs. o Centralised contracting and IT systems for efficiency. o Evidence of cost savings through reduced hospital reliance. 3. Integration, Collaboration, Sustainability (20%) o Strong relationships with local services and LOC. o Governance structures to sustain delivery across diverse networks. 4. Access and Health Inequalities (20%) o Accessible care close to home, including rural areas. o Contracting with independent and multiple practices. o Enhanced services for vulnerable groups. 5. Social Value (20%) o Commitment to reinvestment, workforce development, and local economic resilience. o Funded clinical training for subcontractors. o Subcontracting model supporting local economies and sustainable employment. Additional information: Further details can be found at sections VI.3.
Procurement Information
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by midnight on 9th February 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-06006d
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030540-2026
- Current Stage
- Award
- All Stages
- Planning, Tender, Award
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- Tender Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Limited
- Procurement Method Details
- Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
- Tender Suitability
- Not specified
- Awardee Scale
- SME
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
-
- CPV Codes
85000000 - Health and social work services
85100000 - Health services
85120000 - Medical practice and related services
85121000 - Medical practice services
85121200 - Medical specialist services
85140000 - Miscellaneous health services
85141000 - Services provided by medical personnel
85323000 - Community health services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £570,000 £500K-£1M
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- £570,000 £500K-£1M
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 1 Apr 20266 months ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- 6 Jan 2026Expired
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- Not specified - Not specified
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Complete
- Lots Status
- Cancelled
- Awards Status
- Active
- Contracts Status
- Active
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- NHS Essex Integrated Care Board
- Additional Buyers
- Contact Name
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Email
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Phone
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Buyer Location
- Locality
- CHELMSFORD
- Postcode
- CM1 1QH
- Postcode Area
- Chelmsford
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLH East (England)
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLH3 Essex
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLH36 Heart of Essex
- Delivery Location
- TLH3 Essex
-
- Local Authority
- Chelmsford
- Electoral Ward
- Moulsham and Central
- Westminster Constituency
- Chelmsford
Further Information
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.